Less than two years ago, Georgia Tech, AT&T and Udacity entered into a partnership to offer a groundbreaking online Master’s Degree in Computer Science. The first of its kind, this singular program continues to set the standard for innovative online education. It has been hailed by President Barack Obama as “the kind of innovation needed by the United States to address the rising costs of higher education.”

This week, the program (commonly referred to as OMS CS) celebrates a very special milestone. On December 11th, the first twenty students to complete their studies entirely through this curriculum will receive their degrees!

The program has been instrumental in opening doors to segments of the population that could not have earned an advanced degree previously. At a price of $7,000—almost a sixth of what a traditional on-campus degree can cost—the opportunity is a very real one for so many more students. As Georgia Tech puts it, the OMS CS represents “the best computing education in the world, now available to the world.”

To see these graduates join the ranks of Georgia Tech alumni is a dream come true for all here at Udacity. We are deeply committed to making high quality education available, accessible, and economically feasible at a global level, and as Georgia Tech Provost Rafael Bras has recently noted, the success of these graduates is proof that advanced education opportunities CAN be made available to a much larger student audience. We know by the example of these extraordinary students that if the opportunities are available, students will pursue them, and they will succeed.